The MuMeSE – Museo Memoriale di Sciesopoli Ebraica Casa dei Bambini in Selvino tells a story of resilience, memory, and hope. Part of the MUS.E.O. network (Musei Est Orobie), this museum preserves the legacy of Sciesopoli, a refuge where, between 1945 and 1948, 800 Jewish children and adolescents, survivors of the Holocaust, found sanctuary. After enduring the atrocities of the Nazi-Fascist regime and losing their families and homes, they came to Selvino and rediscovered their identities, a sense of belonging, and dreams of the future.
DESCRIPTION The building itself is a piece of history, originally designed in 1932 by architect Paolo Vietti Violi to educate youth in Fascist ideology. In a powerful twist of fate, it later became a place of renewal for the very children that regime had persecuted. After 1948, Sciesopoli continued to serve as a summer camp and, during the school year, as a kindergarten and primary school. Over nearly forty years, it hosted more than 50,000 children, embedding itself into the local community’s collective memory. Though Sciesopoli officially closed in 1985, its legacy lives on, preserved by the people of Selvino, the surviving witnesses, and their descendants. In 2015, a large gathering commemorated seventy years since the arrival of the Jewish children, and since then, the museum has continued to share their stories, striving to keep their memory and message of hope alive.
KEY FEATURES OF THE MUSEUM
The museum houses wooden stelae engraved with the names of the 800 children who once found refuge here, along with descriptive panels, maps, and documentaries—including contributions from Rai Storia. The exhibits present a rich narrative, divided into four historical phases:
- Fascist Sciesopoli (1924-1943): Sciesopoli’s beginnings as a Fascist youth colony.
- Jewish Sciesopoli (1945-1948): Its transformation into a sanctuary for young Holocaust survivors.
- Assistance and Education Center (1948-1985): Its role as a summer camp, kindergarten, and primary school.
- The Preservation of Jewish Sciesopoli’s Memory: Efforts to honor and remember this chapter of history.
VISITING THE MUSEUM AND SCIESOPOLI
The museum opens every first Sunday of the month. On these days, visitors may also tour the historic Sciesopoli building (by reservation) and sign a liability waiver. Group tours can also be arranged on public opening days by appointment. Extraordinary openings are held on significant commemorative dates:
- International Holocaust Remembrance Day - January 27
- Liberation Day - April 25
- Republic Day - June 2
- European Day of Jewish Culture - First Sunday in September
- European Heritage Days - In the second half of September each year
The museum has specific visiting hours, with entries at 10:00, 10:30, 11:00, 11:30, 15:00, 15:30, 16:00, and 16:30. For the Sciesopoli building, entry is available at 10:45 and 15:00.
PLANNING YOUR VISIT
Advance reservations are highly recommended and can be made at the Infopoint : Corso Milano 19, Selvino;
Contact Number: 035.0521582;
email: sciesopoli@comunediselvino.it.
The Infopoint is open daily from 10:00 to 12:00 and 15:00 to 17:30, and tickets must be purchased there before the tour. Entrance to the museum costs a symbolic 2 euros, making this journey into history accessible to all.
WHY VISIT?
A week in Selvino is an opportunity not only to explore the natural beauty of the Orobie Alps but also to immerse yourself in a deeply meaningful story. Walking through the museum and the halls of Sciesopoli, you’ll encounter not only the personal stories of the children who once called this place home, but a message of endurance and renewal. It’s a place where past and present meet, inviting you to reflect, remember, and carry forward a legacy of hope.
Italian